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New York Disaster Assistance for November Floods Tops $6.8 Million

ALBANY, N.Y. -- More than $6.89 million has been approved for families and individuals as well as public entities that suffered damage from the November storms and flooding, according to figures released today by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO).

Here is an update of recovery activities from FEMA and SEMO as of close of business Wednesday, February 28. The approved dollar amounts will continue to rise as more applications are processed.

1,340 individuals (homeowners and renters) have registered for assistance. The deadline to register was February 20.

$2.57 million has been approved for 939 households through the FEMA Housing Program. Housing assistance provides grants to renters to find alternate housing. Homeowners may receive grants to repair disaster-damaged dwellings.

$ 219,467 has been approved for 180 households through the FEMA/State Other Needs Assistance Program (ONA), which provides grants for lost personal property, transportation, and medical, dental and funeral expenses.

1,061 low-interest disaster loans totaling $1.6 million have been approved for homeowners, renters and business owners by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). An SBA disaster loan is the primary source of federal funding to help those affected return to pre-disaster conditions.

$2.49 million has been approved as the federal share (75 percent) to help local government entities and eligible private non-profits to repair flood damage and pay for emergency costs.

The major federal disaster declaration enabled local governments, state agencies and certain private non-profits in Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Hamilton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Otsego, Sullivan, and Tioga counties to apply for federal recovery aid. Residents and business owners in Broome and Chenango counties were also eligible to register for assistance.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.